they bucked the trend - modern healthcare · 2019-02-13 · nation is relegated to the back burner,...

We have been living in a secondGilded Age in America, inwhich the accumulation ofpersonal wealth has taken

precedence above all other values.One problem with that behavior—other

than the resulting economic bubble—is thatthe “he who dies with the most toys wins”philosophy leaves society as a wholecrippled. Work that might benefit the entirenation is relegated to the back burner, andthe country declines materially andspiritually.

That’s why it’s encouraging to read aboutpeople who have built something moremeaningful than a bank account. Peoplesuch as the four Health Care Hall of Fameinductees profiled in the following pages.

Patricia Cahill, for instance, tapped herabilities as a consensus-builder to joindisparate Roman Catholic health systemsinto a single powerhouse for treatment of

the sick. The members of Catholic HealthInitiatives realized that her combination ofcandor and diplomacy was needed to leadthe fledgling organization.

Brothers William and Charles Mayocreated a legendary clinic that thrived onintegrity. They put patients first and helpedmaintain that priority by putting physicianson salary. That eliminated divided loyaltiesand competition between doctors to takecare of patients.

And there’s Dan Wilford, a footballaficionado, who coached MemorialHermann into winning seasons as a providersystem. One notable detail in his profile isthe statement of a former MemorialHermann chief operating officer who saysthat Wilford believed that if executives didthe right thing, the financial success wouldfollow. Such success was an outcome, notthe starting point, Wilford emphasized.

Mythology expert Joseph Campbell noted

March 23, 2009 • Modern Healthcare H1

They bucked the trendCahill, Mayo brothers, Wilford built lasting organizations and legacies

that dragons in Western lore are depicted ashoarding treasure and virgins and notknowing what to do with either one. Leavingaside the issue of virgins, it’s good to knowthat there are still knights who can rejectpecuniary dragons and marshal resources inthe cause of a better world.

The profiles of this year’s inductees werewritten by Modern Healthcare reporters JoeCarlson and Jessica Zigmond as well asfreelance writer Ed Finkel, a regularcontributor to the magazine. Carlson can bereached at jcarlson@modernhealthcare.com,Zigmond can bereached at jzigmond@modernhealthcare.comand Finkel can bereached at edfinkel@earthlink.net.

Ruth BrinkleyPresident and chiefexecutive officer,Carondelet HealthNetwork, Tucson, Ariz.;and West ministry marketleader, Ascension Health,St. Louis

A distinguished panel of judges selected the 2009 inductees to the Health Care Hall of Fame.

The seven people who participated in the deliberationsrepresent a variety of organizations associated

with the healthcare industry

C. Duane DaunerPresident and chiefexecutive officer,California Hospital Association, Sacramento

Joseph SwedishPresident and chiefexecutive officer,Trinity Health,Novi, Mich.

Fawn LopezVice president and publisher,Modern Healthcare,Chicago

Pamela ThompsonChief executive officer,American Organizationof Nurse Executives,Washington

Thomas DolanPresident andchief executive officer,American College of Healthcare Executives,Chicago

Stephen LieberPresident andchief executive officer,Healthcare Informationand ManagementSystems Society,Chicago

Neil McLaughlinManaging Editor

Health Care Hall of Fame